Thessa Lageman

On 2 October 2019, Hurricane Lorenzo reached the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal in the mid-Atlantic.
Further across that ocean, in the Washington, DC suburb of Herndon, Virginia, Luke Witmer, General Manager of Data Science at Wärtsilä Energy, and his colleagues were closely watching their computer screens to see what would happen to the power grid of Graciosa, one of the islands in the archipelago.
A few months earlier, the Graciosa Hybrid Renewable Power Plant, incorporating Wärts...

“When I’m working, I think about the people who wore these lifevests,” says Ramzi Aloker. “Who were they and what happened to them? I also remember my own journey. The dark sea and the steep Greek mountains.”

Back in Damascus, Aloker, 46, designed girls’ clothing. Now, he sews together laptop sleeves and tote bags in a workshop on the outskirts of Amsterdam. The bright orange and black bags are made from lifejackets worn by refugees as they crossed the Mediterranean sea.

More than 850,000 peo...

The world's population is expanding and we are all
using more and more raw materials. That requires a
waste-free economy in which raw materials are used
again and again, and in which we are economical in
our approach to water and the subsurface. Deltares
is developing a range of solutions.

It's Saturday afternoon in the Dutch city of The Hague. Lonneke de Leeuw and Danny Dubbeldam just ordered a steak tartare sandwich and a chicken burger at The Vegetarian Butcher's new restaurant, De Vleesch Lobby, one of the few vegetarian eateries with plant-based meat and fish as its central theme.

The couple is eager to try some of the meat substitutes on the menu, which are made from soy, wheat protein, wheat starch and lupin. A month ago, De Leeuw, 23, watched a video about a slaughterho...

John Bell from the European Commission paid a visit to Deltares in January. What are his views on finding solutions to the challenges of climate change? What role can research play? And can mission-driven work and disruptive models help?

From the Arabian peninsula to the Southern United States, more than a billion people live in desert regions and experience extreme temperatures. These desert communities see very little rainfall, and regular dust storms. However, over the centuries, desert dwellers have invented building techniques to help them live in these harsh climate conditions. What are some of the smartest modern examples of architecture in drought regions?
Houses in desert regions often have thick walls, covered patio...

Behind the Design

The recently refurbished Apollo Hotel Amsterdam, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, situated at the heart of five intersecting canals, is a visual delight. Cross the threshold and step into a world where a mix of styles effortlessly converges, complete with quirky patterns, outspoken colors, luxurious materials and vintage items.

Nestled in Amsterdam’s elegant Oud-Zuid district, this glamorously revamped hotel is within walking and cycling distance of the historic city center, famou...

There’s a soft buzzing sound coming from a tent that stands next to a hotel in a village in the Netherlands. Inside, an arm attached to a large orange-and-black printer on tracks applies concrete to a disc, like frosting on a cake. This is followed by a second layer. A man operates the laptop that’s connected to the printer.

Here in Teuge, about 60 miles east of Amsterdam, a small building is being assembled layer by layer with a 3D printer.

The building will be called De Vergaderfabriek, Dut...

Museums today are using advanced technologies to tell the stories of their artifacts, creating an even better experience for visitors. A few years ago, the Egyptian Museum in Turin underwent a massive refurbishment that required innovative access solutions.

The Museo Egizio in Turin, Italy, first opened its doors to visitors in 1824. It houses the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts after the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The museum has an exhibition space of 12,000 square meters spread over...

It’s a Saturday night in January and De Wallen, better known as Amsterdam’s red light district, is bustling. Groups of people stroll past souvenir shops, cafés, red-lit windows and sex shops. There’s a strong smell of marijuana in the air. On a bridge over a canal, a large banner reads: “0.0% zone. No alcohol in public spaces. €95 fine.”

Behind a window in a narrow alleyway, a woman in lingerie beckons two young men passing by. Security personnel in orange coats limit how many people enter th...

Looking for the most romantic places in Europe to visit with your partner or even for your honeymoon? Take a cruise to these breathtaking European destinations in Italy, Iceland, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Belgium, Montenegro or Sweden. Here you'll find some of the top things to do in Europe for couples. Relax, go on an adventure, or admire stunning natural beauty and fascinating cities in these memorable romantic European getaways.

“Research institutes like Deltares can play an important role in the COVID-19 recovery process,” says Bambang Susantono, Vice-President of Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and a member of Deltares’ International Advisory Board. “Right now, people are hungry for knowledge that can be used for evidence-based decision-making.”

Culture + Style

Amsterdam is known as a superb place to party. Whether you like live concerts, hip dance clubs or underground festivals, the Dutch capital offers something for every taste. But with countless trendy clubs, fantastic live music venues and more than 300 festivals each year, it can be hard to know where to begin diving into the scene.

“Amsterdam is an outstanding destination for clubbing and attending concerts and music festivals,” says Kristina Dolgova, Music Director at W Hotel...

It's a Monday afternoon in January. I'm working at my office in The Hague when a young woman's plea for sanctuary reaches me via Facebook Messenger.
"Good evening Madam," it begins. "I want to know the address for the shelter in Kuwait ... Please, I need your help.”
The woman introduces herself as Eline. She is originally from Madagascar, one of the poorest countries in the world. She does not use her real name on her Facebook account; instead, she goes by the name Hasina.
Eline's contacted m...

Tunisia's wine industry says it remains hopeful about its future, despite tourists saying away following last month's deadly beach attack....